As we welcome the early days of fall, it’s nice to look back on the adventures we had with family and friends over the summer. Following is our staff’s summer vacation slideshow, which highlights local, national and global travels. Perhaps it will provide ideas for your future vacation planning – or at least give you a glimpse of what we were up to when our “out of office” messages were on.

International Expeditions

Curtis Pepin adventured through the Dolomite mountains and Croatia

The Pepin family adventure began with a hut-to-hut trip in Brenta Dolomites in northeastern Italy. They traveled over the limestone peaks using via ferratas, with many routes dating back to the first world war, and slept in mountain rifugios (huts). The fun continued with a transfer to the Cortina d’Ampezzo Dolomite region where they hiked to the Nuvolau Refuge, the oldest hut in the Dolomites dating back to 1883. After summiting Monte Paterno, they traveled to Dubrovnik, Croatia, exploring in and around the walled city. They finished the adventure on the Croatian island of Brac.

   

Steve Phelps helped fuel scientific discoveries in Caesarea, Israel’s manmade harbor

This summer Steve enjoyed his fifth season diving with the Israel Antiquities Authority as a volunteer “citizen scientist.” This season was spent discovering the foundation structure of the Herodian harbor at Caesarea where he and his group excavated sections of the outer breakwater to determine the method the Romans used to build the harbor. This included taking many cement and wood samples (pictured) that formed the outer harbor caissons. According to Steve, the findings this summer completely overturned what was previously understood to be the method the Romans used to sink and set the cement caissons. The findings proved that the Romans used a special cement that hardens underwater, called Pozzuoli, that was brought to Israel all the way from the volcanic ashes of Mt. Vesuvius in Italy.

 
 

Travels to Canada, our neighbors to the north

Kevin Callaghan was “gone fishing” at Desolation Sound

Kevin retreated and relaxed near Desolation Sound, a deep water sound at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. There, he fished for Chinook salmon, otherwise known as King salmon.

Mike Gerke spent time on or near the water  

The Gerke family enjoyed a canoe trip at Whistler that began in Alta Lake and ended in Green Lake – connected by the River of Golden Dreams. According to Mike, from Alta Lake you enter the narrow, slow-moving River of Golden Dreams as you paddle through wetlands, wildflower banks and old-growth forests, offering incredible views of Whistler, Blackcomb and the Rainbow Mountains. Closer to home, Mike also watched the Foulweather Bluff Sailboat Race from Hansville, Washington, located on the northern tip of Kitsap Peninsula. With the oldest lighthouse on Puget Sound, the area is ideal for beachcombing for shells and sea glass, sea kayaking, fishing and crabbing. 

 

 

Eileen Olson relaxed in Penticton

Penticton, British Columbia, Canada is one of Eileen’s favorite places to go in the summer. Nestled between two lakes, it is known as the “Napa of Canada,” offering wine tasting at one of 120 area wineries. Eileen also loves swimming and cycling and it’s a great spot for those activities: Penticton hosts the Challenge-Penticton Triathlon annually and has been home to the Ironman Canada race for three decades.

 

Vacations in Utah, Michigan and California

Cal Spranger visited Moab, Utah

The Spranger family spent time mountain biking in Moab. As DiscoverMoab.com says, “Moab offers a huge variety of trails for mountain bikers of any experience level, from beginners looking for a scenic ride through beautiful canyons and mesa tops, to seasoned bikers looking for the ultimate challenge.” The full family photograph was taken along the Porcupine Rim Trail which Cal says is a must-do on any mountain bike bucket list.

 

Julie Parisio Roy relaxed in Saugatuck, Michigan

If you find yourself near Michigan, you might want to plan a trip to Saugatuck, population 925. According to Julie Parisio Roy, who visited this summer with her family, it’s a fun and artsy town near Lake Michigan, home to the only remaining chain ferry in the U.S. Built in 1838, the ferry is hand cranked across a chain beneath the water. Some of the earliest types of ferries, chain or cable ferries date back to the 13th century with the Hampton Ferry in England, according to Wikipedia.

 

Local adventures in Washington and Oregon

Mitzi Carletti hiked near Wenatchee

According to Washington Trails Association, “Saddle Rock is the ideal overlook trail for Wenatchee. Winding up to a summit dotted with craggy, pointed rocks, the trail follows an old road most of the way to the top.” This summer, Mitzi hiked to the top and experienced the breathtaking, expansive views, then spent time in the town of Brewster, which is located on the confluence of the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers.

 

Mike Schultz watched the eclipse in eastern Oregon

Mike and his family stuck close to home this summer, but they did travel down to eastern Oregon for the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. From just north of John Day on Hwy. 395, Mike was able to capture these amazing photos of the sun during the eclipse. While there will be partial eclipses visible from various parts of the world in 2018, the next total eclipse will be on July 2, 2019, visible from Pitcairn Islands, central Argentina and Chile and Tuamotu Archipelago. The next time a total eclipse will be visible in the United States will be April 8, 2024.

 

Mitch Steiner explored by bike

One of the many cyclists at the firm, Mitch Steiner did a “century ride,” a ride of 100 miles or more within 12 hours, this summer. Along the way, he took photos of the gorgeous spots he experienced. This picture was taken at Golden Gardens Park and marked the halfway point of his journey. Interested in biking some of Mitch’s path? Start near the UW on the Burke-Gilman trail, head around the lake to Redmond and join the Lake Washington Loop.

Jeff Walters camped near the Methow River

The Walters family enjoyed their time tent camping alongside the Methow River in the North Cascade Foothills. A highlight of the trip for Jeff’s family was spending an afternoon in the town of Winthrop, which invites visitors to “take a step back into the Old West,” strolling the wood boardwalks, checking out the saloons, and enjoying the western hospitality. Considering a visit? Winthrop offers hiking, biking, fly-fishing, horseback riding, nature studies and much more.